Descending tracts

Definition

Descending tracts are pathways by which motor signals are sent from the brain down the spinal cord to control muscles and glands. They facilitate communication between the brain and various parts of the body for voluntary movement and reflex activities.

Related terms

Motor neurons: Nerve cells that transmit motor signals from the brain and spinal cord to muscles, initiating movement.

Central Nervous System (CNS): The complex nerve tissue system that includes the brain and spinal cord, serving as the main processing center for the entire nervous system.

Reflex arc: A neural pathway that controls an action reflex, involving sensory neurons, interneurons, and motor neurons, bypassing direct conscious control